TACO of DH's frontline staff to use body-worn video cameras while performing duties
The Department of Health (DH) announced today (August 19) that the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) will equip frontline staff with body-worn video cameras (body cameras) starting tomorrow (August 20) to assist them in carrying out their duties more effectively and to safeguard the safety of the public and TACO personnel. TACO's frontline staff will use the devices as necessary, based on actual needs and circumstances.
To effectively protect the public from the hazard of second-hand smoke and deter smoking violations, TACO regularly inspects all statutory no smoking areas to enforce the smoking ban. TACO has flexibly deployed resources and adopted new enforcement strategies since 2023, which include extending the time of surveillance and inspections in no smoking areas, deploying plain-clothes officers to take proactive enforcement actions, and will issue fixed penalty notices (FPNs) to smoking offenders without warning. The number of prosecutions against illegal smoking has surged due to the new enforcement strategies. The number of FPNs issued increased from 6 296 in 2022 to 10 261 in 2023 and 13 488 in 2024.
Starting tomorrow, Tobacco and Alcohol Control Inspectors (see photo) will wear body cameras while they are discharging their duties and will record on-site situations when necessary. Body cameras will be worn conspicuously by Tobacco and Alcohol Control Inspectors in uniform and will be used in an open and transparent manner. If they encounter unexpected or conflicting incidents and consider it necessary to record the situations, Tobacco and Alcohol Control Inspectors will, where reasonably practicable, notify the person(s) concerned of the body camera prior to the commencement of recording in order to safeguard the safety of the public and enforcement officers as well as to collect evidence. The body camera will display a blinking red light during recording to notify those involved that they are being recorded.
Making reference to the experience of relevant law enforcement departments in the use of body cameras, TACO has formulated clear enforcement guidelines and provided training for frontline staff. When handling relevant footage, TACO will ensure compliance with the regulations of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (Cap. 486). Footage that carries no investigative or evidential value, or constitutes no other legitimate purpose, will be deleted after 31 days from the date it was recorded to ensure that no excessive personal data is retained.
For details on access to the footage, please visit the TACO website.
TACO of DH's frontline staff to use body-worn video cameras while performing duties Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation
The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted an anti-illegal worker operation codenamed "Contribute" today (January 15).During the operation, ImmD Task Force officers raided premises under renovation in a newly built public housing estate in Sheung Shui district.A total of six suspected illegal workers and one suspected employer were arrested. Thearrested suspected illegal workers comprise six men, aged 22 to 41. Furthermore, one man, aged 45, suspected of employing the illegal workers, was also arrested. An investigation into the suspected employers is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.
Apart from mounting the enforcement operation, ImmD officers and a promotional vehicle have been deployed to distribute "Don't Employ Illegal Workers" leaflets and convey the message in the estate.
An ImmD spokesman said, "Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties."
The spokesman stressed that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years' imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years' imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.
According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee's identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.
Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) and/or forced labour victims. When any TIP and/or forced labour indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP and/or forced labour elements. Identified TIP and/or forced labour victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP and/or forced labour victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.
For reporting illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 3861 5000, by fax at 2824 1166, email to anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit "Online Reporting of Immigration Offences" form at www.immd.gov.hk.
Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
